More than 2,800 people packed into the Gatorade Garden City Complex in St. Catharines on Feb. 27 for Niagara College Night with the Niagara IceDogs.

Niagara College staff and faculty with their families and friends cheered on the IceDogs from the reserved Niagara College section of the arena.

Participating in the puck drop was Mike Santoro, coordinator of Sports Management and Golf Management, along with first-year Sports Management student Cameron Hughes and college mascot Knightro.

Niagara College had a booth on the concourse at the arena and Recruitment staff members were on hand to greet and speak with the public. They also handed out swag to people at the game, including thunder sticks and foam fingers.

“Niagara College Night at the IceDogs game is a great opportunity to connect with the community and to also support our region’s only OHL team,” said Phil Hayes, manager of Student Recruitment whose department coordinated the activities. “By having a presence at the game it allows us to connect with the community and meet with everyone from prospective students, current students, parents, community partners and alumni.”

The College also had prizes for the shootout including a $100 Greenhouse gift certificate, a $100 gift card for Benchmark Restaurant, and a wine and beer gift basket.

Throughout the game messages were displayed on the video screens and announcements were made over the PA about it not being too late to apply to NC, as well as reminders about the College’s upcoming Spring Open House on March 29, 2014.

While the hockey game didn’t begin until the evening hours, the action started much earlier for applicants to the College’s Sports Management, Golf Management, programs, as well as applicants to the Fitness and Health, Recreation and Leisure, and Recreation Therapy programs who attended sessions and a reception at the NOTL and Welland Campuses respectively during the afternoon. The applicants and their guests – from as far away as Orangeville – were invited to the game as special guests of NC. They were equipped with college swag and watched the game from the NC section of the arena.

While fans cheered for the home team, the Niagara IceDogs were defeated by the Mississauga Steelheads 3:1.